COVID-19 has exacerbated pervasive health disparities in the most vulnerable communities. Latinos in Los Angeles have the highest number of COVID-19 cases of all groups. To reach this population we propose to develop and test an intervention where arts meets public health. Working with local Latino artists in the Eastern part of Los Angeles, we seek to better understand health safety behaviors in this population via town hall meetings and focus groups, and develop and test educational materials, outdoor media materials and messaging to increase mitigation behaviors in the community. In addition to the campaign, a case management of resources interventions is being deployed with promotores de salud during a six weeks period to address the particular needs of highly vulnerable populations, including seniors, and those with chronic conditions. A community advisory committee of stakeholders will help to lead the project. Imagery and messaging will be displayed in the community as well as via partner agencies.

As part of VaccinateLA (Kipke/Baezconde-Garbanati, PIs), Jeremy Kagan and Sheila Murphy’s Telling Stories, Saving Lives worked with young Latinx and African American filmmakers trained at USC School of Cinematic Arts to create two short stories that debunk common myths that underlie vaccine hesitancy in those specific populations.

The films were produced by filmmakers representing these communities with the support of USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Keck School of Medicine at USC (VaccinateLA, StayConnectedLA) and ACTransformative Media.

For more information, please contact Laura Stoddard (laura.stoddard@med.usc.edu).